Cabinet stabilizer



y 1958 l. G. DUTCHER ETAL 3,393,950

CABINET STABILIZER Filed March 2, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 4 INVENTORS IVAL G. DUTCHER VERNON R. SJODIN MI g 01 M41- 5722M ATTORNEYS July 23; 1968 e DUTCHER ETAL 3,3 3,

CABINET STABILIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1967 FIG. 7

United States Patent 3,393,950 CABINET STABILIZER Ival G. Dutcher, White Bear Lake, and Vernon R. Sjodin,

Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 620,095 12 Claims. (Cl. 312-276) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stabilizer device for use with a freestanding cabinet which moves to a stabilizing position when a downwardly opening front door of the cabinet is opened thereby to stabilize the cabinet against forward tipping.

This invention relates to cabinet structures and particularly to means for stabilizing a freestanding cabinet structure.

In certain cabinet structures such as freestanding dish washer cabinet structures the closure means is pivotally mounted on the front of the cabinet at the bottom of a front opening of the cabinet through which the dishes to be washed are delivered into and removed from the interior dishwashing space. The closure means, or door, is arranged to be swung from a closed position across the opening to an open position extending generally horizontally forwardly from the cabinet. The rack in which the dishes are placed conventionally is arranged to be moved forwardly through the opening for accessibility thereto. In moving forwardly, the rack is conventionally carried on the forwardly extending door. Downward forces on the forwardly disposed rack and door such as by placing of articles to be washed in the rack or by the user bearing downwardly on the rack may cause the entire assembly to tip forwardly. The present invention is directed to the prevention of such forward tipping of such a freestanding cabinet means.

Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved stabilizer means for use with a freestanding cabinet structure.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a new and improved cabinet stabilizer arranged to be automatically disposed in stabilizing position when the cabinet closure means is disposed in the open position.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a cabinet stabilizer mounted to the closure means.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a cabinet stabilizer including a panel selectively closing an access opening to a machinery space at the bottom of the cabinet means.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a cabinet stabilizer including a panel, and means for pivotally mounting the panel to the closure means for movement with the closure means to overlie the lower front portion of the cabinet means when the closure means is in the closed position and to be spaced forwardly of the cabinet means to define an upright stabilizer supporting the closure means forwardly of the cabinet means when the closure means is in the open position.

A yet further feature of the invention is the provision of such a cabinet stabilizer which is extremely simple and economical of construction and provides facilitated assembly and disassembly.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a cabinet structure provided with a stabilizer embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary left elevation thereof with the cabinet door in closed position and the 3,393,950 Patented .July 23, 1968 stabilizer in retracted position in full lines, and the door in open position and stabilizer in stabilizing position in broken lines;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary isometric view showing the stabilizer in a raised arrangement providing access to the machinery space in the lower portion of the cabinet;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary left elevation similar to that of FIGURE 2, but showing a modified form of stabilizer; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of the structure of FIGURE 6.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIGURES 1 through 5 of the drawing, a cabinet structure generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a freestanding cabinet 11 defining an upper front opening 12 and a lower front portion 13. A closure means, or door, 14 is pivotally mounted on the cabinet 11 at the bottom of the opening 13 for selectively closing the opening. As shown in FIGURE 1, a stabilizer generally designated 15 is associated with the cabinet 11 and door 14 for stabilizing the freestanding cabinet when the door 14 is in the open position extending forwardly from the cabinet as shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, door 14 is pivotally mounted on the cabinet 11 by means of hinge plates 16 carried by the cabinet and pivot pins 17 carried on the lower end of the door at the opposite side of the opening 12 whereby the door may be swung upwardly to a closed position as shown in full lines in FIGURE 2 wherein the door is across the opening 12. As shown in broken lines, the door 14 may be swung downwardly about the axis of pins 17 to a forwardly extending open position.

The stabilizer 15 includes a panel 18 extending across the front of the cabinet 11 subjacent the opening 12. The panel 18 effectively defines a kickplate extending generally flush with the door 14 and forwardly overlying the front portion 13 of the cabinet 11 when the door 14 is in the closed position of FIGURE 2.. The panel 18 includes an upper portion 19 having opposed pins 20 pivotally carried by an upward extension 21 of end caps 22 at the opposite side edges of the panel 18. The pins 20 are received into the side edges of the door 14 at a point spaced above the lower edge 23 of the door, and thus when the door 14 is swung to the open forwardly projecting position shown in FIGURE 1, pivot pins 20 are spaced forwardly from the cabinet 11.

The panel 18 is further connected to the cabinet 11 by a link 24. One end 25 of the link is provided with an opening 26 receiving a pivot pin 27 carried on a mount 28 secured to the cabinet 11. The other end 29 of the link 24 comprises a U-portion pivotally receiving a pin 30 fixed to the panel 18.

A screw 31 extends upwardly through an elongated slot 32 in a tab 33 fixed to the panel 18 and is threaded into a bracket 34 carried by the end cap 22 to permit upward movement of the end cap 22 from the edge of the panel 18 and thereby permit removal of the panel from the structure 10 when desired.

The spacing between pivot pins 27 and 30 herein is preferably substantially similar to the spacing between pivot pins 17 and 20 so that as the door is swung from the closed position shown in full lines in FIGURE 2 to the open position shown in broken lines therein, the panel or kickplate 18 is swung from the upright position shown in full lines to the forwardly spaced upright position shown in broken lines. The cabinet 11 may be provided wit-h casters 35 and the panel 18 may be provided with depending posts 36. In the forward position, the posts 36 just clear the floor F and will immediately contact floor 3 F when excessive weight is applied to the front of the cabinet 11. The door 14 may be further provided with a bracket 37 selectively engageable with a stop bracket 38 for limiting the normal forward movement of the door.

Thus, as shown in FIGURE 1, the pins 20 effectively define a fulcrum about which door 14 is pivoted as a first-class lever whereby a downward force exerted on the forward portion of the door causes the rearward portion of the door to be urged upwardly against the weight of the cabinet 11 thereby effectively precluding a forward tipping of the cabinet by a force applied on the forward portion of the door.

The lower portion of cabinet 11 defines a machinery space 39 opening forwardly through cabinet portion 13. In the retracted position of panel 18, as shown in full lines in FIGURE 2, the panel effectively closes the space 39. To provide access to the space 39, the panel 18 may be swung on the pins 20 to an elevated position as shown in FIGURE 5. To effect such disposition of panel 13, the

user merely springs the links 24 inwardly to clear the pins 27, as shown in FIGURE 3, thereby disengaging the connection of the links 24 to the cabinet. If for any reason it is desired to remove the panel 18 as for providing further accessibility to the machinery space 39, the screws 31 may be loosened thereby permitting the spacing apart of the end caps 22 from the opposite edges of the panel 18 and thereby permitting the panel to be withdrawn.

Thus, stabilizer 15 provides an improved stabilizing of the freestanding cabinet 11. The stabilizer panel 18 functions as a conventional kickplate in the retracted position and as a fulcrum support for the door 14 in the stabilizing position. The stabilizer is automatically disposed in each of the positions as a function of the arrangement of the door 14 and the movement thereof between the closed and opened positions. The stabilizer 15 is further arranged in a novel and simple manner to permit ready access to the machinery space 39 of the cabinet when desired.

Turning now to FIG'URES 6 and 7, a modified form of cabinet structure generally designated 110 is shown to comprise a structure generally similar to structure but having a modified form of cabinet stabilizer generally designated 115. The stabilizer 115 includes a panel 118 having a pair of upright connectors 119 upstanding from the opposite ends thereof and pivotally secured to the door 114 by pins 120. The connectors may be secured to the ends of the panel 118 as by welds 140. The lower end of the panel 118 is pivotally connected to the cabinet 111 by a link 124 having one end 129 pivotally connected to a pin 130 carried on a U-braeket 130a fixed to the end cap 122 of the panel 118. The opposite end 125 of the link 124 is pivotally connected to the cabinet 111 by a pin 127 carried on a bracket 128 fixed to the end cap 122 of the panel 118.

The opposite end 125 of the link 124 is pivotally connected to the cabinet 111 by a pin 127 carried on a bracket 128 fixed to the cabinet.

A coil spring 141 is provided for biasing the link 124 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 6. As shown, the spring includes a lower hook portion 142 engaging a suitable connector 143 on the bracket 128 and an upper hook portion 144 engaging a suitable connector portion 145 on the bracket 130a.

Thus, stabilizer 115 is generally similar to stabilizer and functions in a similar manner to stabilize the freestanding cabinet 111 when the door 114 is in the open position and serve as a kickplate when the door 114 is in a closed position. In the retracted, kickplate defining position of the panel 118, the spring 141 maintains the lower portion of the panel in juxtaposed relationship to the lower portion of the cabinet 111. In the stabilizer defining position shown in dotted lines, the end 144 of the spring arm 41 is overcenter with relationship to the link 124 and thus serves to maintain the lower portion of the panel 118 in engagement with the fioor F, thereby providing an improved positive support of the door 114 and stabilization of the freestanding cabinet.

For facilitated description of the invention, portions of cabinet structure corresponding to similar portions of cabinet structure 10 are identified by similar reference numerals but one hundred higher.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exelusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. In a structure having freestanding cabinet means defining a lower front portion and an upper front opening, and closure means pivotally mounted on the cabinet means at the bottom of said opening to be selectively positioned in closed position extending across said opening and in an open position extending forwardly from said cabinet means, means for stabilizing the cabinet means against forward tippage when the closure means is in said open position comprising:

a panel; and

means for pivotally mounting said panel to said closure means for movement with said closure means to overlie said lower front portion of the cabinet means when said closure means is in said closed position and to be spaced forwardly of said cabinet means to define an upright stabilizer supporting said closure means forwardly of the cabinet means when said closure means is in said open position.

2. The structure of claim 1 further including means carried by said cabinet means for controlling the pivotal movement of said panel on said closure means,

3. The structure of claim 1 further including means for controlling the pivotal movement of said panel on said closure means, said control means being arranged and constructed to maintain said panel in an upright position during movement of said closure means between said closed and opened positions.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes connection means upstanding from said panel to be disposed laterally of said closure means when said closure means is in said closed position.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes connection means fixed to said panel and pivotally mounted to said closure means at a point spaced from the axis of pivoting of the closure means on the cabinet means.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein said means for controlling the pivotal movement of said panel on the closure means includes link means pivotally connected to said cabinet means below said opening and pivotally connected to said panel.

7. The structure of claim 2 wherein said means for controlling the pivotal movement of said panel on the closure means includes disconnectable means permitting the selective pivotal movement of said panel on said closure means upwardly away from said lower front portion of the cabinet means.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes disconnectable means permitting selective removal of said panel from said closure means.

9. The structure of claim 1 wherein said panel includes means for engaging a subjacent floor to limit the pivotal movement of said panel and cause said panel to limit the movement of said closure means away from said opening.

10. The structure of claim 1 wherein said panel mounting means defines a fulcrum about which said closure means may swing as a first-class lever when a downward force is applied to the forward portion of the closure means in said open position, said closure means being pivoted to said cabinet rearwardly of said fulcrum whereby said downward force is resisted by the weight of the cabinet means.

11. The structure of claim 1 wherein said cabinet means defines a lower machinery space and said lower front portion of the cabinet means defines an access opening to said machinery space selectively closed by said panel.

12. The structure of claim 1 wherein said panel mounting means swings said panel forwardly and downwardly about a substantially horizontal axis.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1926 Grundler et a1. 312-317 9/1964 Kendt et a1. 312-276 9/1964 Payton et al. 312-276 5/1967 Barnstead et a1. 312-276 FOREIGN PATENTS 1911 Great Britain.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner. 

